Dog Training Tools VS Proper Dog Behavior

There are so many dog training tools on the market nowadays, that it can be easy for us to begin relying on them rather than teaching proper behavior to our dogs.

Tools like no pull harnesses or head halti's can be great, don't get me wrong... but it isn't a fun thing to try and walk your dog on a leash when they have no leash manners. Believe me, I know from experience, and 3 Siberian Huskies who love to pull. This is why relying too much on the training tools available to us can actually come back to bite you in the bum!
What happens when we become so accustomed to using these tools, is that when they are not available, our dogs seem to forget how to behave. Here's a scenario - Dog Training Tools VS Proper Dog Behavior :

You adopt a dog and quickly realize he has absolutely no leash manners.

This makes walks more of a pain than anything. So what do you do?

You invest in a no pull harness.

OMG, it works so great! Your dog doesn't pull anymore...

Until you take the harness off. Then it all goes out the window.

Your dog has no idea how you want him to behave on or off the leash because he hasn't been taught.

The thing is, you will never be able to walk your dog without a no pull harness. Not properly anyway. The harness becomes a sort of crutch for you and your dog.

The proper way to use a no pull harness?

While the harness will definitely help you out, save a lot of strain on your arms, and be much less harmful to your dog's neck, they are not meant to replace dog behavior. It is very important that we teach our dogs to have manners.
If you have a puller, I recommend using a no-pull harness but combine it with teaching leash manners. Your ultimate goal is to be able to use a regular harness and go for a walk without having to worry about your arm being sore by the end of it.

This is the same for any training tool. Your goal should always be for your dog to have manners, behave, and be happy!

Walks should be fun for you and your dog. Having to worry about a dog who pulls, or a dog who lunges towards another dog (playfully or not) takes the fun out of it for us humans. So yes, use the tools that help us train, but do not rely on them. Use them as help, not a behavior replacement. You want a well-behaved dog always, not just when the tools come out.
Stay tuned for some fun training tips posts coming in the near future! And if you have any stories you would like to share about walk times with your beloved pooch, please share in the comments!

Jenna Drady

Jenna Drady is the author and creator of ownedbyahusky.ca. She is a mother of two beautiful daughters and 3 Siberian Huskies. Being a husky mom for a long duration of her life, Jenna was inspired to begin writing about them. In doing so, she began doing massive research on dog behavior, and all things dog in general. Jenna is inspired everyday by her family, and loves to bring her readers valuable information as well as a little humor too! Jenna has created her own business partnered with her lovely mother while blogging called Pawz N Clawz Jewelry N Things. They currently sell handmade jewelry with added pet charms, as well as a few dog toys too! As an animal rights activist, and huge believer in helping pets who have been stuck in shelters, they donate a portion of their sales to local shelters throughout Canada.

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